Let’s build a Mountain Rifle

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Hi, Loon, how's things? My Tikka T3 Hunter walnut stocked 260 weighs in at 7.8 lbs with scope and under 7 without. It's pretty darned consistent. That being said, I would like a couple of pounds less if it only has to make one or two good shots. New Mexico mountains require that you carry other things. Priority one is water, which is pretty heavy.
Hey Howie! Thing go well..... actually bout to take my dad up to skyline looking for sheep this afternoon.

Ive always had issues with lighter guns, primarily i think because im inducing more movement and the gun dosent have the mass to dampen that.
I also have had problems with the way most very light rifles balance. The lighter they get, the more weight i want out front. Unfortunately most of the weight saving comes from thinning the barrels, moving the weight back.

Honestly id guess serious shooter/hunters form is better than mine....or who knows maybe it's a personal quirk, the guy i sold my 6.5 527 too has flipped a dozen sheep and pigs with it over the last 6-8 months and he dosent practice much.
Last time i had it out i clean missed a ewe at just under 200yds from prone......
 
Hey Howie! Thing go well..... actually bout to take my dad up to skyline looking for sheep this afternoon.

Ive always had issues with lighter guns, primarily i think because im inducing more movement and the gun dosent have the mass to dampen that.
I also have had problems with the way most very light rifles balance. The lighter they get, the more weight i want out front. Unfortunately most of the weight saving comes from thinning the barrels, moving the weight back.

Honestly id guess serious shooter/hunters form is better than mine....or who knows maybe it's a personal quirk, the guy i sold my 6.5 527 too has flipped a dozen sheep and pigs with it over the last 6-8 months and he dosent practice much.
Last time i had it out i clean missed a ewe at just under 200yds from prone......

I haven't tried one, but New Ultralight Arms rifles are supposed to be really well balanced because the action and the stock are so light. I haven't tried one myself, but I have been paying attention to reviews since he started building them those many years ago. No need for me to buy one now. Hanging from my toes in the rocks hunting sheep is beyond me. I am comfortably living in old codgerville.:)
 
Hey Howie! Thing go well..... actually bout to take my dad up to skyline looking for sheep this afternoon.

Ive always had issues with lighter guns, primarily i think because im inducing more movement and the gun dosent have the mass to dampen that.
I also have had problems with the way most very light rifles balance. The lighter they get, the more weight i want out front. Unfortunately most of the weight saving comes from thinning the barrels, moving the weight back.

Honestly id guess serious shooter/hunters form is better than mine....or who knows maybe it's a personal quirk, the guy i sold my 6.5 527 too has flipped a dozen sheep and pigs with it over the last 6-8 months and he dosent practice much.
Last time i had it out i clean missed a ewe at just under 200yds from prone......
Good luck would really be cool seeing your dad get a sheep
 
Model 700 SS Mountain in 7-08 that comes in the B&C bedded stock.
Ditch the stock trigger for a Timney or the like.
Leupold VX3 30mm 4.5x14 with the CDS.
About 7.5 lbs total.
3/4 moa @ 200yds with my loads all day and a bunch of money to spare to put towards a trip...
 
Model 700 SS Mountain in 7-08 that comes in the B&C bedded stock.
Ditch the stock trigger for a Timney or the like.
Leupold VX3 30mm 4.5x14 with the CDS.
About 7.5 lbs total.
3/4 moa @ 200yds with my loads all day and a bunch of money to spare to put towards a trip...

I guess we need to keep in mind that trotting on down for a new SS Mountain is a thing of the past......
 
They feel great in my hands, I've been trying to get one but they are a pain to get at the moment. I'd like a 7-08 nearly out one on layaway last year but it was a 6.5 cm I should have got it. There crf so that's a very big plus.
I liked the feel also, don't like wing safeties, and the kimbers felt pretty indistinct, but otherwise for 750 bucks it smoke pretty much everything else.

I think its a better deal than the mesa's i like, but i prefer 700 type actions.
 
I guess we need to keep in mind that trotting on down for a new SS Mountain is a thing of the past......
True, but I guess I was thinking of picking one up one up on GB or NOS somewhere. Well that was a bad idea because they have more than doubled in price at least on GB. Guess I'm happy with the one I got when available. I have an order in now for a new Christensen Mesa in 7-08 and will see what she does when I get it.
 
I shot this goat at about 13,000’ way above tree line. Base camp was at 11,500’, I packed everything in on my back and spent the better part of a week solo up there. The rifle was a M-70 in a Pacific research stock and rebarreled with a stainless 27” .270 Weatherby barrel. It weighs about 8.5 lbs. I am not a fan of ultralight rifles, I am a fan of fitness and would rather have a rifle that I shoot extremely well and carry a couple of extra pounds.

The number one thing you need to do before going on that extreme mountain hunt is get into extremely good shape. You can’t make up for poor fitness with an ultralight rifle.

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Any hunting rifle I own will get shot a lot as I like to develop loads (part of the hobby for me).

My customized FN SPR was spec’d out to be comfortable to carry but capable of 1/2 MOA 5 shot accuracy with tuned hunting loads.

In other words, there were compromises, as there always are in these kinds of equations. The only thing I didn’t compromise on was cost. In the end the final product came as close to my objective as possible and way over budget but I’m very happy with it.

Weighing in at a little over 9lbs with scope makes it comfortable to carry (Proof Carbon barrel helps keep the weight down)

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It consistently shoots 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups, and is a pleasure to shoot from the bench (McMillan stock with adjustable cheek piece and Hellfire brake help here)

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And most importantly, it’s a deadly hunting implement and a joy to take to the field.

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I'm to big to go up there big mountains but I can feel the difference I a rifle thats a pound lighter then another. Most ti!we the way I hunt a 8-10 pound rifle isn't to bad since I'll walk to a spot an sit. I'd like a nice light rifle for a bit of state forest I hunt it's a little hilly and a 6-7 pound gun would be nice, I've used my cz in there and it's nice to carry.
 
How about a Mauser M18 ($430) or Sauer 100 Ceratech ($900) in 6.5 PRC with a Leupold VX-3HD in either 3-10 or 4.5-14 ($700)? The rifles are 6.6 or 6.8 lbs and the scopes are 13.1 oz or 13.3 oz? That gets you to about 7.5 lbs for between $1130 (+tax and shipping) and $1,600. Leaves $3,400 for practice ammo, a better and lighter stock (if you want one) and your plane ticket for the big hunting trip.
 
The kimber Montana's are really nice even the hunter is light to.
I thought that I wanted an ultra-lite rifle and bought the Kimber Hunter in 257 Rob. Nice rifle, but I sold it after working on loads and not getting any 3 shot groups less than 1 1/2". It didn't help that it kicked harder than my Savage 10 Sierra in 300 WSM either. It is only a half pound heaver than the Kimber.
 
I thought that I wanted an ultra-lite rifle and bought the Kimber Hunter in 257 Rob. Nice rifle, but I sold it after working on loads and not getting any 3 shot groups less than 1 1/2". It didn't help that it kicked harder than my Savage 10 Sierra in 300 WSM either. It is only a half pound heaver than the Kimber.
the kimbers really shoot they have to be shot differently tho. I'd like one in 257 prefer a 708 but if I see one of the other in a lbs who knows.
 
True, but I guess I was thinking of picking one up one up on GB or NOS somewhere. Well that was a bad idea because they have more than doubled in price at least on GB. Guess I'm happy with the one I got when available. I have an order in now for a new Christensen Mesa in 7-08 and will see what she does when I get it.

I noted the same a month ago when I was shopping gun broker. Some of the factory product prices have encroached on the semi custom offerings such as Cooper. I have noted that some of the stuff in my safe would now go for some pretty serious change.
 
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